Folding bed



(No Model.)

110.580, 60m .t Patente r um wn mfg Humm i A TTOHNEYS.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL A. DODGE, OF FORT VORTIAI, TEXAS.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 580,260, dated April 6, 1897.

Application filed July 3, 1896. Serial No. 597,954. (No model.)

To all zul/2,0m, t nu@ concern:

Be it known that l, ISRAEL A. DODGE, of Fort Vort-h, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in folding beds, and has for an object, among others, to provide a bed which may be cheaply made, will take up the least possible space when folded, can be easily moved from place to place in a room or from room to room or into halls or out on porches for use,will when adjusted for use be perfectly safe, and will when so adjusted have parts adapted to conveniently hold the clothing of the occupant, can be easily handled by a child or delicate woman, and will be comfortable and easy in use.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the/bed open ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bed folded and against the wall as when not in use. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the bed folded. Fig. 4 is a detail section showing the connection of the leg and body, and Fig. 5 is an end view showing the bed partially raised.

In carrying out my invention I have sought to provide a bed which will be inexpensive, require no complicated trigger-work, and which can be readily moved through doors from room to room, into halls, or out on porches or verandas, so the coolest spot may be reached in warm weather, and in winter all the family can, it' desired, be massed in the warmest room or rooms, economizin g heat and adding to the comfort of all.

The bed can be made of any suitable size or in different sizes, and be made of any wood or material to suit the purchaser. It comprises a body A, having ends A', sides A2, and bottom A3, the latter being suitably divided or paneled and arranged to receive the family or other portraits, covered by glass so such pictures will be properly preserved and protected and will be exposed to view when the bed is turned up against the wall. Mani- This body is designed to turn up sidewise and rest against the wall when not in use, and at its edge about midway between its ends I provide a handheld B, which may be grasped in raising and lowering the bed. This in connection with the lugs b on the outer legs permits the bed to be firmly grasped in moving it from place to place.

For convenience in lifting the bed by delicate women or young children I provide a lever-handle C, which slides into and out of the body and may be drawn out to afford lever-power in lifting the bed. It is obvious that this will only be necessary when the bed is raised and lowered by persons with less than the ordinary strength, as the particular construction of the bed so it can turned up sidewise instead of endwise renders its handling into and out of position for use very easy. The bedding is supported in the bodyA and may include a suitable form of spring D, upon which the bedding may be placed and held by means of the frame E. This frame is hinged at one edge of the body and turns down against the bedding and is held in such posit-ion by suitable fastening devices, (it may be the turn-buttons e,) which secure the swinging edge of the frame down upon the bedding, so the frame will secure the bedding in place when the bed is in use and permit it to be turned up against the wall or lowered without disturbing or disarranging the bedding. When the bed is in use, it may be pulled out slightly from the wall, so the frame E can be set back at an incline and form a convenientrack to receive the clothing removed by the occupant of the bed.

The legs of the bed are arranged in pairs, the legs F and G of each pair being pivoted, preferably, by bolts, as shown, to the ends of the bed, and washers H being interposed between the legs and ends of bed to prevent marring the latter. These legs F and G may be termed, respectively, the base-legs and the outer legs and are Vmade of such a length that when the bed is adjusted for use they extend above the upper edge of the ends of the body and form head and foot boards, as will be understood from Fig. l. rlhe baselegs F have the lower edge f made wide or broad, so they will rest squarely upon the floor, and each leg F is provided with two rollers or casters F', so the bed when turned IOO up on edge can be easily shifted about to'any place desired. The pivots of the base-legs are set toward the front, so the bed when turned up against the wall will balance back and not have a tendency to tilt forward. The base-legs F are connected together bya connecting-bar F2, which extends lengthwise of the bed-body and forms a stop for engagement by such bodyl to limit its movement in either direction. A pitman connection H extends between the legs F and G of each pair and serves to positively turn the legsG toopen or closed position as the bed-body is raised or lowered. In practice it will be seen the legs F rest squarely on the floor and the bedbody is turned up or down, the pitman H tending to turn the legs-G out as the bed-body is lowered-and in as the bed-body is raised.

Vhen thebed is turnedup against the -w-all, it may be locked by -means of a padlock .lor other suitable form of lock.

My bed when made -up is readyfor use and can be turned up against the wall until 'it is desired to use it. WVhen -turned edgewise, it

takes up but a small `space Yfor storage or for z 5 shipment incars or wagons, is `lightand easily handled, and perfectlysafe, requiring no dangerous Weights or springs.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 3o l hinged to the bed-body and turning down to 35 secure fthe kbedding,r in said body, Adevices by -which .to secure the frame when so turned down, Athe base-legs pivoted to the body, the bar connecting said base-legs and forminga.

stop for the bed-body, the outer Alegs pivolied 4o tothe body and-the links con-nectingthe outer legs with the ybase-legs Vall substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

ISRAEL A. DODGE.

Witnesses:

RoBT. G. J onNsoN, J. C. RANDOLPH. 

